Potato Man by Megan McDonald illustrated by Ted Lewin*

A grandfather shares with his grandchildren a period of time where he made some poor choices and how he choose to change.
The potato man was the new huckster.  His one eyed face which was lumpy like a potato scared the children on East Street.  Unfortunately the boys choose to act cruelly towards him.  Then the main character (the grandfather as a boy) has the chance to make amends.
Strategy: asking questions
*Borrowed from the library.
*Highly recommend.

Amelia's Road by Linda Jacobs Altman illustrated by Enrique O. Sanchez

Amelia despises when her father takes out the map.  It means that she and her family are moving . . .again.  Amelia longs for a permanent home where the teacher will remember her name and where she can form friendships.  Her family, however, are migrant farm workers and must live where the crops are ready to harvest.
Strategy: asking questions
*Borrowed from the library.
*Highly recommend.

Mouse Magic by Ellen Stoll Walsh

Wizard, (the black bird) shows Kit (the mouse) how complementary colors move when contrasted.
Pair with An Eye for Color: The Story of Josef Albers.
*Borrowed from the library.

Cry, Heart, But Never Break by Glenn Ringtved illustrated by Charlotte Pardi

Translated from the Danish by Robert Moulthrop.
Grandmother has taken care of her four grandchildren well over the years.  But now Death is in the house.  To prevent Death from going to her, the children gave him a lot of coffee.  This scheme works for a bit but nothing can stop Death.
Death tells the children a story to reveal why death must come.
This book made me cry a bit as I imagined the children's pain.
Warning: Death is portrayed as it typically is-a hunched, bony man in a black cloak.  It may scare younger and sensitive children.
*Borrowed from the library.

Elephant and Piggie The Thank You Book by Mo Willems*

Sadly, this Elephant and Piggie book is Mo Willems' last one in this series.  

My kindergartner was so excited to read this book to himself when I came out of the store with it!

I love how Mr. Willems bows out gracefully from this series by having Piggie say "thank you" to the numerous appearing characters in various books.  The story line allows the reader to reminisce about various Elephant and Piggie books.  Once again Mr. Willems incorporates clever humor.

Our edition included a two sided poster plus a stand up thank you card.

*Highly recommend.

*We own this book.

The Lighthouse Family #4 The Turtle by Cynthia Rylant illustrated by Preston McDaniels*

In a dense fog, Seabold, Whistler and Lila hear a cry for help.  As they descend down the slippery rocks, a sea turtle.  A gale has blown him off course and he now cannot swim in the wintry sea.  With Pandora's problem-solving skills, the family figures out a way to return him to the warm seas.
*Highly recommend.
*Borrowed from the library.
Guided Reading Level: O-P (3rd grade)

The Lighthouse Family #3 The Eagle by Cynthia Rylant illustrated Preston McDaniels*

Pandora and Seabold give Whistler and Lila permission to venture into the unknown woods as long as they use the compass.  As they explore this new world, they soon discover they have lost the compass.  How will they be able to return to the Lighthouse in time for Pandora's tarts?!  Enter the bold Eagle!

A sweet fantasy for transitional readers or advanced K/1st grade readers or great read aloud for toddlers/preschoolers. 

*Highly recommend.

*Borrowed from the library.

Grade Level Equivalent: 3.5

The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert by Rosaria Champagne Butterfield*

I first heard Rosaria on Focus on the Family this winter and was captivated by her story,  her communication skills and intellect.  I then ordered her book and was not disappointed.
In this book she shares how she begins to find identity in Christ rather than her feminist and lesbian beliefs and lifestyle.  This book reminds us that God is able to transform anyone, even if their belief system seems totally opposite of His truths.
*Highly recommend.
*I own this book.
One aspect that may turn off readers is she is adamant about Reformed Presbyterian Church and singing only Psalms (a bit legalistic about it).  I found one typo in the expanded edition.

The Lighthouse Family #1 The Storm by Cynthia Rylant illustrated by Preston McDaniels*

As a kitten Pandora vowed to become a lighthouse keeper as this device saved her and her father's life.  Now four years into fulfilling her vow, Pandora is lonely.  She spends hours spewing light upon storm ridden waves, not always knowing if she is saving a life or not.  Occasionally transient creatures stop by to chat but Pandora lacks consistent friends and a family.
Then one day a storm brings Seabold, a sea loving dog.  As Pandora nurses him back to health, she dreads the day he must leave.  Before he leaves, however, the sea brings another gift-three orphaned mouse children.
Will Pandora's longings for friendship and family be fulfilled?
A perfect series for transitional readers and/or a read aloud series for toddlers/preschoolers.
Love the vocab./word choice!
Guided Reading Level: O (3rd grade)
Grade Level Equivalent: 3.8
*Highly recommend.
*Borrowed from the library.

Hello, Red Fox by Eric Carle

Based on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's color theory of primary colors and complementary colors, Mr. Carle creates a visually involved story.
Little Frog invites various creatures to his birthday party.  When each creature arrives, Little Frog and his Mama disagree on the animal's color.
Readers must stare at a black dot for 10 seconds and then stare at a blank paper with a black dot in the center to see the complementary colors.
My boys loved it!
I would not recommend this book for younger kids or a large group story time as appreciating it takes time and effort.
*Borrowed from the library.

When Green Becomes Tomatoes by Julie Fogliano illustrated by Julie Morstad

Poems for All Seasons
Beginning on March 20th, Ms. Fogliano composes poems depicting the season.  Divided by seasons, the book's poem titles are specific dates.
I loved the descriptive and figurative language.
My sons did not enjoy this book as much as I did!
*Borrowed from the library.

Puddle by Hyewon Yum*

A young boy throws a bit of a tantrum when the rain threatens his fun for the day.  His creative, clever mother engages him in drawing a story and the day turns "sunny".
Strategy: fluency-**The entire story is told via dialogue between the mother and son.  Her words are written in read and his words are written in black.
*Highly recommend.
*Borrowed from the library.

Fearless Flyer by Heather Lang illustrated by Raul Colon

"Ruth Law and Her Flying Machine"
I had never heard about Ruth Law and was enthralled with her story of determination.
Ruth Law loved to fly.  She would not let other people's opinion or safeguards prevent her from pursuing her dream-flying from Chicago to New York City.
I loved how the author incorporated quotes by Ms. Law throughout the story.  They were integrated very well.
The author includes more about Ruth Law and her other amazing feats later in life.
I wish a timeline of her life had been included.
*Borrowed from the library.

Classic Starts-The War of the Worlds Retold from H.G. Wells original by Chris Sasaki illustrated by Jamel Akib*

My third grader loved this book!  He read it to himself.
Martians have overtaken the Earth.  How can they be stopped?
My son's favorite part was how the aliens were stopped!
*Borrowed from the library
*Highly recommend.

Tom Swift Young Inventor #6 Under the Radar by Victor Appleton*

My third grader read this book to himself.  He figured out who the villains were early on in this book.
In this book Tom Swift's father is abducted.  So Tom and his sister Sandy try to solve the mystery even if it means taking on the FBI!
*Highly recommend.
*Borrowed from the library.

Ada Bryon Lovelace and the Thinking Machine by Laurie Wallmark illustrated by April Chu*

With rich illustrations and captivating words, readers will marvel at Ada Lovelace's ingenuity during a time period where women were not considered equal in intelligence in the maths and sciences.
The author shares Ada's childhood beginnings with math and numbers and how it developed into helping Charles Babbage build his Analytical Engine.  Ada was the first computer programmer!
The author offers more background information in the back.
**Highly, highly recommend.
*Borrowed from the library.

The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick*

Award winner-Newbery Honor book.
Homer and his brother Harold have been raised by their cruel uncle.  Then their uncle does the ultimate dastardly deed-sells Harold as a substitute to the serve in the Civil War, even though Harold is too young to fight.  Homer escapes his uncle's clutches, determined to rescue his brother before he is killed in the war.
The journey to Harold brings a variety of adventures to Homer.
*Highly recommend for older readers (junior high)-see warning.
*Borrowed from the library.
I really liked the section in the back where the author included additional civil war facts plus Civil War Slang.
Warnings/points to discuss: The uncle beats and abuses the brothers.  Homer encounters a few other cruel characters along the way.  Home lies and stretches stories throughout the story.  He is a liar.  The Battle of Gettysburg is described, not shying away from the gore of war.  Very explicit . .. made me appreciate the sacrifices these men made so many years ago.
Guided Reading Level: X (grade 6th and up)
Grade Level Equivalent: 7.4

Wet Cement-A Mix of Concrete Poems by Bob Raczka*

Very clever concrete poems containing lots of word play.
Even the titles are cleverly designed/placed.
*Highly recommend.
*Borrowed from the library.

The Lighthouse Family #2 The Whale by Cynthia Rylant illustrated by Preston McDaniels*

Pandora, the cat; Seabold, the dog; and the mouse children-Whistler, Lila and Tiny, encounter a beluga whale that was separated from his mother and pod.  Whistler and Lila fly on crotchety Huck (a cormorant) to seek the mother and pod.
A sweet fantasy perfect for transitional readers or preschoolers/toddlers ready to listen to chapter books.
*Highly recommend series.
*Borrowed from the library.

Horrible Bear! by Ame Dyckman illustrated by Zachariah OHora

A bear breaks a girl's kite.  As she has temper tantrum, she has an epiphany and quickly decides to seek forgiveness instead of revenge.
Strategy: predicting.
*Borrowed from the library.

Dracula retold from the Bram Stoker original by Tania Zamorsky illustrated by Jamel Akib

Classic Starts
My third grader continues to enjoy reading the classics.  This series is especially well written for younger readers who want to read the Classics.
I would not recommend this book for younger readers.  See warning . . .
Strategy: inferring (my son while reading it commented on some inferences he had made.)
Warning: vampires, death

Zoom by Istvan Banyai (and other books by him)

In Comprehension Connections by Tanny McGregor, she recommends using these wordless books to teach/reinforce inferring.
The books are mind-boggling and creative but were not a favorite (the art work does not appeal to me).

Other books by him:
Re-Zoom
REM
The Other Side